Members of the House voted unanimously last week in support of a resolution that calls for a study of gifted education in school districts throughout Pennsylvania, according to state Rep. Todd Rock, a Republican who represents Franklin County.

House Resolution 139 tasks the nonpartisan Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to conduct a comprehensive study of the process for identifying children as gifted; the process for developing and implementing gifted individualized education plans; the programs and services provided to gifted students; the cost of providing programs and services; and a demographic breakdown of the children who benefit from programs and services.

Taking into consideration the new types of harassment that are able to be inflicted with the expansion of online media, the House passed a measure to prevent individuals from creating fake profiles to maliciously harm another person. House Bill 764 would make it a crime to use the name or identifying information of another person to create a web page; post messages or open an account/profile on a social networking site; send an email or text; or open an email account while engaging in any of the following offenses: harassment, terroristic threats, stalking and witness or victim intimidation or retaliation.

On May 16, Rock met with officials from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s District 8 office at the Franklin County Maintenance Office to review planned road and bridge projects in the area and to discuss other projects that might able to be funded if a new transportation plan is enacted by the Legislature.

The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission will hold the first of two annual Fish-for-Free Days on Memorial Day, Monday, May 27, when anyone can fish without a license.

Rob Kauffman

Funding made possible under Act 13 of 2012, which uses money from impact fees placed on Marcellus Shale development for grants to purchase or convert vehicles to natural gas, has been awarded to the Borough of Chambersburg and Park’s Garbage Service, according to state Rep. Rob Kauffman, a Republican whose district includes Franklin County.

Park’s Garbage Service Inc. will receive $335,840 for the purchase of 15 compressed natural gas refuse trucks for use at two of its locations — Shirley Township, Huntington County, and Greene Township, Franklin County.

The Borough of Chambersburg, along with partners IESI Corp. and the Borough of Shippensburg, will receive $472,500 for the purchase or retrofit of 19 vehicles to operate on compressed natural gas. The vehicles include refuse and recycling trucks, a utility bucket truck and an ambulance.

U.S. House of Representatives

Bill Shuster

Congressman Bill Shuster voted with 229 other members of the House of Representatives to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

Page 2 of 2 - “Obamacare will wreak havoc on our economy and is a gross overreach of government power,” said Shuster, a Republican whose district includes Franklin County. “Americans need healthcare that will allow them to see the doctors they want and to not have to worry if they will be able to pay the bill.

“Republicans once again are leading the charge against Obamacare and it is my hope that Senate Majority Leader Reid gives the Senate the chance to vote to repeal Obamacare. It is time the Senate listened to the concerns of the American people. Regardless, I will continue to do everything I can to repeal Obamacare and replace it with reforms that make sense,” said Shuster.